A blog about a Brownie Unit – Brownie Meeting ideas

Advancement: Building a Campfire (Simple version)

Our district advancement is tomorrow night (technically, we don’t have districts anymore in Ontario, but what do you call them? Communities, I guess?). Anyway, you know what I mean. Sparks, Brownies, Guides, Pathfinders and Rangers will be gathering for a big advancement ceremony… this is where 2nd year Sparks become new Brownies, 2nd year Brownies become new Guides, and so on. It is meant to be a nice and simple send off for our girls. (Sad and Happy at the same time).

Each Branch do our openings in order. Brownies and Sparks each finish their section with their Promise (Brownies may throw in a Grand Howl?). At the end, everyone say the Guiding Promise.

Introduce the Guiders

SET UP: Pre-arranged representatives from each unit to gather off-stage. 2 Guiders, 2 Sparks, 2 Brownies, 1-2 each of 1st, 2nd, and 3rd year Guides, and Pathfinder and Ranger.

Introduction: Through all the years of Guiding, campfires are a favourite experience and they truly represent the progression through Guiding. I love campfires because you get to sing, dream and laugh (and roast marshmallows). And tonight as we celebrate Guiding and as each level advances to the next, we’re going to symbolically build a campfire.

Building a Campfire Text:

2 Guiders with a Blanket
One of the most important things to remember when building your campfire is the foundation. The foundation keeps the fire safely in place and guards it so that it may be enjoyed by all. The foundation of Guiding is its leadership. Guiders, please find a good spot for our campfire.

2 Sparks (with two Rangers) with a few rolled up balls of paper
We know that paper and dry grasses would be a good starter material for our campfire. Just like tinder, our Sparks represent the beginning of Guiding. Sparks, please bring the Tinder to the Rangers (who will stay in the circle and build the campfire)

2 Brownies with small twigs or sticks
Next we need some small twigs and dry sticks for kindling to help with the fire. Just as kindling needs tinder to start, so too have the Brownies built on the skills they learned before.

1-2 1st year Guides with some bigger sticks
Now we need some bigger fuel to make sure that this campfire doesn’t go out.

1-2 2nd year Guides with some bigger logs
And next we’ll need logs – the second year Guides have a solid foundation behind them. Their contribution will make our campfire a roaring success.

3rd year Guide – with a bucket and shovel
To make our campfire a safe success, we always make sure we have safety equipment on hand. As girls grow, they take on more responsibility.

Pathfinders and Rangers are putting the fire together…
Let’s see what we have so far for our campfire… we have the foundation, the starter, the kindling and logs. Is that everything we need? NO! We need a match! Pathfinders and Rangers, it is up to you to keep the fire going! UPDATE Idea – we’ll give the Pathfinders and Rangers some battery tea lights so there is light in our fire!

Sing Fire’s Burning (Start with Sparks and add a group as we start over). Now, as our imaginary fire starts to catch and build to a roar, we’re going to help it along with Fire’s Burning (but don’t join in until you’re called). Start with Sparks, then Brownies, Guides, Pathfinders, Rangers, Guiders and finally parents. So seven rounds of it should make it really loud at the end!

Advancement Ceremonies:

Advance Sparks (Guiders to stand up and say who is advancing, give the girl your goodbye gift – shake hands, and then send them to the Owls who will be ready to welcome the girls – then they’ll go sit with Brownies)

Advance Brownies. Owls will stand up, identify who is leaving, give them their goodbye gift and send them off to Guides for welcome). And so on…

And so on, advancing Guides, Pathfinders and Rangers.

Finish with Make new Friends.

Brown Owl – Ladies and gentlemen, you have watched our girls build a campfire just as we have watched them develop over the years. But none of this is possible without the Guiders who lead, guide and mentor your girls. These are volunteers who have taken an oath to give these girls, your girls, the most precious gift they have to offer – the gift of time. (Big Clap!)

Now we’re going to do our closings Then cake and fruit (water). – And Photos!

This is a fairly simple advancement ceremony that we did a few years ago and we were out of ideas so we will repeat it. Are you finishing this week – or do you have some time to go? Or are you in the Southern Hemisphere and just starting up?

Post event review – This was a stunning success. Even if it rained and we had to go inside (Jen – you were right, erg!). Thank you to all of the Guiders who baked, clapped, participated and contributed.